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Former dual Grade 1 winning chaser What A Friend is fancied to open his pointing account in Saturday’s Avon Vale Ladies Open at Larkhill. The former Lexus and Aintree Bowl winner, who was fourth in the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup, finished eighth at Badbury Rings in February, his first outing since being pulled up in last season’s Grand National. The 12 entries include New Forest winner Alskamatic, Jayo, who got Charlotte Hawker off the mark here a fortnight ago, course specialist Quedillac and Bay To Go, a winner at last season’s corresponding meeting. Presentandcorrect, the winner of 10 races and another well-suited to the Larkhill track can chase up What A Friend.

Presentandcorrect and Quedillac are among the entries for the Mens Open, along with Round Tom, a disappointing sixth behind Rumbavu here at the New Forest. Course winner Bedrock Fred and Level Spirit, who is chasing a 2014 hat-trick, are the two suggestions.

The Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate has attracted eight entries, including Alskamatic and Subtle Sovereign, who has already won three races this season. Three contenders are Burton winner En Suite, whose connections took last season’s corresponding event, Perfectly Willing, who gave the highly rated Sharp Suit plenty to think about at Kingston Blount, and Louisthenineteenth, who ran his best race for a long time when runner-up at Charing. Subtle Sovereign gets the vote, with Louisthenineteenth fancied for the forecast.

Barneys Mate, who nearly held off former top chaser Join Together at Charlton Horethorne, can return to winning ways in the Novice Riders race. Former top staying hurdler Lough Derg is fascinating, but Presentandcorrect, Jayo and Wilton third Trueflyingcolours may give Barneys Mate the most to do.

The Henderson’s easy Treborough Hill winner Glacial Oscar and Graham Roach’s Buckfastleigh winner Pure Oxygen stand out in the Restricted.

The Maiden has attracted 19 entries and could be difficult to solve. Just Imagine It may represent Graham Roach and Richard Barber so is one to consider. Preparedepierre has been placed in his two outings to date and may be the strongest challenger.

Coombe Hill should have little difficulty outpointing R’Cam in the Hunt race.

Two pony races, qualifiers for the Wessex Series Finals in May, take place from 12.00 noon, followed by a charity flat race in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance at 1.00pm, prior to the seven point-to-point races starting at 1.45pm.

The course is found just NW of Amesbury on Salisbury Plain, reached off the A303, A345 or A360 (SP4 8QT). Admission: £10 per person, under 16s free.

Hunt Members (1 ran)

1. R’Cam (IRE) (J McNeile), walked over. (Laura Thomas)

Open Maiden (10 ran)

1. Ruddy Article (IRE) (W Biddick, 9-2); 2. His Lordship (Miss A Bush, 4-1); only two finished. 6min 09. 2l. (Richard Barber)

Mens Open (3 ran)

1. Bedrock Fred (J Barber, 7-4); 2. Presentandcorrect (IRE) (M Wall, 4-9F); 3. Captain Knock (IRE) (R Henderson (6-1). 6min 05. 25l, 10l. (David Weston)

Ladies Open (5 ran)

1. Risk (IRE) (Miss A Goschen, 7-1); 2. Quedillac (FR) (Miss B Andrews, 2-1JF); 3. Boomtown Kat (Miss R Talbot, 3-1). 6min 08. ½l, 6l. (Rilly Goschen)

Restricted (6 ran)

1. Boardwalk Empire (IRE) (T Ellis, 4-1); 2. Cottstown Gold (IRE) (Robert Hawker, 20-1); 3. Glacial Oscar (IRE) (R Henderson, evensF). 6min 18. 2l, 4l. (David Buckett)

Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate (2 ran)

1. Perfectly Willing (IRE) (M Wall, 4-6F); 2. Alskamatic (Miss E MacMahon, evens); only two finished. 6min 13. Dist. (Tim Sage)

PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (3 ran)

Race 1 - 138 cms & under

1st:    Mayday Black Magic - Charlie Sprake

2nd:   Talponciau Perfect Print - Hamish Clarke

3rd:    Fofsway Kingfisher - Molly Burton

4th:    Courtneys Magic Spot - Megan Bevan

5th:    Rockingstone Maisie Mouse - Milo Kennedy

6th:    Shaihallion Honey Bear - William Bevan

NR: Tiggywinkle (Jonah Kennedy) 

Race 2 - 148 cms & under

1st:    Billie Jean - Harry Cobden

2nd:   Igo Zuminov - Amelia Glass

3rd:    Dolphin Song - Lucy Reason

NR: Cool Runner (Sam Burton)

Risk took Saturday’s Avon Vale Ladies’ Open under a superb ride from Rilly Goschen. The Nyland (Gillingham) trainer-rider, partnering her first winner of the season, kicked clear a mile from home and had enough in hand to hold off championship leader Bridget Andrews, who relentlessly closed the gap aboard favourite Quedillac. Risk won two French flat races in 2006 and 2007, but had not visited the winner’s enclosure since taking a Fontwell novice hurdle under AP McCoy for the Charlie Egerton stable 4½ years ago. “This is one for the old team,” joked a delighted Sarah Waugh, head of the 12-strong Fuzzy Logic syndicate. “Rilly has ridden for me for ages, she trains him at [the late] John Dufosee’s old yard and [John’s widow] Re looks after his back. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Dave Weston made the perfect start to his training career with Men’s Open winner Bedrock Fred, a horse bred by the trainer and his partner, El Tanner. Held up in rear in the early stages, Bedrock Fred sauntered clear of his toiling rivals when jockey Jack Barber released the handbrake at the top of the final climb.

Tim and Irene Sage’s Perfectly Willing took the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate to the delight of Ruth Pitman, the horse’s joint-owner for the season. “Tim offered a season’s ownership in a November internet auction in aid of the Beaufort Hunt and we won the Perfectly Willing prize for £305. I see the horse out hunting, my daughter Ellie leads up and my son Chris helps. We’ve always wanted a pointer and have done it in the cheapest way possible.”

Anna Reed’s Boardwalk Empire benefited from front-running tactics to take the Restricted. “I kept firing him at everything and he picked up for me every single time, including several times from outside the wings,” said jockey Tom Ellis, full of admiration for his partner. “Nothing was ever going to come past.”

Will Biddick reached the 16-winner mark with a typically well-timed challenge aboard Andrew Powell’s Maiden winner Ruddy Article. “He was very weak and backward last season, but the mare won five races, so I’d expect him to improve in time,” felt Seaborough trainer Richard Barber.

Charlotte Hawker doubled her career tally aboard Novice Riders’ race winner Jayo. The combination made much of the running and still looked to have a slight advantage when challenger Barneys Mate (Christopher Barber) crashed out at the last.

 Melksham financial advisor James McNeile, 54, walked over aboard R’Cam in the Hunt race to repeat his 2012 corresponding race success.

Lisa Curant took the Avon Vale Charity Flat race (staged in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance) aboard Gerald Burton’s eight-year-old ex-winning pointer Ruud Revenge.

The two pony races were won by Charlie Sprake, 11, aboard Mayday Black Mink (138cm race) and Harry Cobden, 15, riding Billie Jean (148cm).